5 Treadmill Gripes - and 5 Solutions

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:22 PDT

I'll admit that I'm kind of annoyed that the extremely hot and humid weather has forced me to move my runs inside. I prefer jogging in the fresh air, and there are many reasons I hate the treadmill. I'm sure you can relate, so here are five easy ways to make your treadmill time more fun and enjoyable.

Gripe	Solution
It's way too boring.	Staying in one place can have its downfalls, so make it fun by listening to a book on tape, learning a language, watching a movie or TV show, perusing a magazine, or listening to a great running mix.
It's too loud.	You can't stop the noise, but you can prevent yourself from hearing it (especially that annoying guy trying to pick you up) by wearing a set of good noise-blocking headphones.

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Gripe

Solution
It's too repetitive on my body.	The great thing about treadmills is that you're in control of the speed and the incline. So mix it up to feel different effects on your body - try lunges too. If you don't want to futz with the buttons, many newer treadmills offer built-in interval workouts. Select a workout from the list and it'll make you feel more like you're running outside than just running on a hamster wheel.
I don't believe the readout.	When using your own treadmill or one at the gym, you get accurate readings of the time, distance, and how fast you're moving, since these are simple functions the machine can figure out by using the clock and the speed of the belt. When it comes to calories burned, if there's a place you can enter in your weight, then the calorie readout should also be fairly accurate. To be sure, you may want to get a heart rate monitor or the Nike+ Sports Kit.
There's no place for my water bottle or magazine.	If your treadmill doesn't have a rack or water bottle holder, you can buy these separately. A drink holder ($17) can easily keep track of your water. You can also purchase a reading rack ($25). It's made of clear plastic and fits over the treadmill display so you can read your book and also peek at how long you've been walking.

Reasons You Hate the Gym and Solutions For Dealing

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:32:21 PDT

You may be driven indoors if the Summer heat makes your workouts unbearable. Since not everyone is a fan of the gym, here are some solutions to your gym gripes.

Waiting for equipment because the gym is too crowded
Find out when your gym is least busy, and if your schedule allows for it, go during those off times like 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. If you're locked into going before or after work when everyone else seems to hit the gym, give less popular equipment a try. Or, do some strength training moves while you wait.

High membership prices
Gyms sometimes offer deals if you join with a friend or sign up for a certain amount of time. If there aren't any deals to be had, choose a gym that offers exactly what you use, so you're not paying for amenities that you don't need like a sauna or pool.

Annoying people
Whether they're gabbing on their cell phone or trying to flirt with you while you do your reps, annoying people will always be at your gym - it's how you deal with them that will affect your workout. You could always secretly complain to the staff, especially if there are rules about cell phones. Or do what I do, which is put on my headphones, focus on my workout, and ignore everyone else.

Continue reading for other ways to deal with why you hate the gym.